ND Constitutional measure

[Obi-Wan]

I think this is to important for ND to be buried on the political page - WE NEED A LARGE NO VOTE

Why would they have a Constitutional measure placed on a primary election where typically 20% of ND eligible voters vote when a general election typically has around a 60% turnout. Looks to me the legislator doesn't like initiated measures and want to limit was the average citizen can do. I believe their hope is by putting this on a primary election and counting on typical turnout 10.01% of eligible ND voters could change the ND constitution.

www.sos.nd.gov/sites/default/files/documents/elections/2026-primary-measure-guide.pdf

www.sos.nd.gov/sites/www/files/documents/elections/election-results-pdfs/statistics-turnout.pdf

 

[Duckslayer100]

They're worried about being embarrassed when the free school meals are made into a constitutional law, since they failed to listen to the people and pass it on their own (thus having more control over it).

 

[labhunter66]

They're worried about being embarrassed when the free school meals are made into a constitutional law, since they failed to listen to the people and pass it on their own (thus having more control over it).

That school lunch measure should not pass and it definitely should not be enshrined in the constitution. I'm all for helping pay for kids meals who's parents cannot afford it but there is no reason for us to pay for meals for kids who's parents can afford it. Isn't that basic parenting? Taking care of your kids.

 

[jdfisherman]

They're worried about being embarrassed when the free school meals are made into a constitutional law, since they failed to listen to the people and pass it on their own (thus having more control over it).

I'm ok with the premise, but like everything the gov't regulates it'll be full of requirements, and be too much for the school districts to handle so it will end up as a 3rd party no-bid contract to some friend or relative of a school board member.

 

[gonefshn]

That school lunch measure should not pass and it definitely should not be enshrined in the constitution. I'm all for helping pay for kids meals who's parents cannot afford it but there is no reason for us to pay for meals for kids who's parents can afford it. Isn't that basic parenting? Taking care of your kids.

I’m voting for it for one reason. I refuse to allow any kid to have to eat a subpar meal or be singled out because his parents either really can’t pay or they’re a pos. As a conservative to me what the Legislature should have done is required all kids to get fed the same and if some don’t pay required the schools to send them to collection like a business would or treat it like child support and make them eventually pay. But as long as schools are allowed to do what they’re doing I’m voting for it.

As for the measure to limit it to one item vote no. It’d be foolish for us citizens to give up this right. The citizens should always have more power than the electorate. To me the problem of more than one issue is way less than lawyers trying to void anything we vote in because they’ll say it’s more than one. And with elections occurring as often as they do we’re just a year or two away from fixing it based on the people’s will.

 

[labhunter66]

I’m voting for it for one reason. I refuse to allow any kid to have to eat a subpar meal or be singled out because his parents either really can’t pay or they’re a pos. As a conservative to me what the Legislature should have done is required all kids to get fed the same and if some don’t pay required the schools to send them to collection like a business would or treat it like child support and make them eventually pay. But as long as schools are allowed to do what they’re doing I’m voting for it.

As for the measure to limit it to one item vote no. It’d be foolish for us citizens to give up this right. The citizens should always have more power than the electorate. To me the problem of more than one issue is way less than lawyers trying to void anything we vote in because they’ll say it’s more than one. And with elections occurring as often as they do we’re just a year or two away from fixing it based on the people’s will.

So, instead of enshrining mandatory spending in the constitution, why not contact your legislators and work with them to come up with a reasonable program. This is going to be expensive, wasteful, and mandatory without flexibility. It will be a disaster just like most every other social program ever implemented. Target who needs it and have those that can afford it pay for their own kids.

 

[Colt45]

There are already free lunches in place for families who need help. Not sure how it works, but I have heard of people in the patch turning down overtime when they have a chance to make some serious cash as that would put them over the threshold and they wouldn't qualify for the "free" lunches for their kids anymore, among other freebies, thus the problem with "free" stuff, we incentivize not working or paying your own way when you have the opportunity. Its just another case of fraud and taxpayer ripoff.

I will be voting against it, once its a constitutional law then good luck getting rid of it in tough times, just another socialist handout is all it is, NOTHING IS FREE! Including breakfast and lunch.
Why do we need free breakfast and lunches for kids whose parents can afford to pay for it?

 

[jake57]

Vote this DOWN I can't say that enough. As far as the free school lunches the real problem is the food is shit(thanks Michele Obama) I have 4 grand kids in Bismarck Schools and they pack a lunch 70% of the time because they tell me the food is horrible. There is already a program in place for free or reduced lunches for people that need the help.

 

[Obi-Wan]

This ballot measure has nothing to do with " free lunches " it has to do with limiting the power of the average citizen when it comes to initiated measures - unless I am missing something

 

[guywhofishes]

 

[Obi-Wan]

Vote this DOWN I can't say that enough. As far as the free school lunches the real problem is the food is shit(thanks Michele Obama) I have 4 grand kids in Bismarck Schools and they pack a lunch 70% of the time because they tell me the food is horrible. There is already a program in place for free or reduced lunches for people that need the help.

Typically on 20% of voters vote in a primary election ? PEOPLE NEED TO GET OUT TO VOTE ON THIS ONE

 

[NDSportsman]

Biggest problem with these measures are the idiots voting don't do any research on them or understand what they are voting on. Educated voters are an endangered species!

 

[labhunter66]

This ballot measure has nothing to do with " free lunches " it has to do with limiting the power of the average citizen when it comes to initiated measures - unless I am missing something

You are correct. I was just responding to Duckslayer's comment on the school lunch measure that most likely will appear on the general election ballot in November. Another thing that I think needs to be changed, it has to be harder to amend the North Dakota Constitution. It has been amended almost 170 times. That is ridiculous. Any amendment to the constitution should take at least a 2/3 majority of voters, including proposed amendments that come out of the legislature.

 

[KDM]

Anything labeled "It's for the children" in something as concrete as a constitutional amendment is a HUGE red flag for me. What else is in that measure that will FLUCK us for the rest of the states life? NOBODY wants kids to go hungry. We don't need a constitutional measure to make it happen. What will be added once this thing gets labeled "Feed the children" measure. I smell a big pile of BS hidden in this "childrens" push.

BIG NO!!

 

[johnr]

Anything labeled "It's for the children" in something as concrete as a constitutional amendment is a HUGE red flag for me. What else is in that measure that will FLUCK us for the rest of the states life? NOBODY wants kids to go hungry. We don't need a constitutional measure to make it happen. What will be added once this thing gets labeled "Feed the children" measure. I smell a big pile of BS hidden in this "childrens" push.

BIG NO!!

My good friend who is quite wealthy has 4 children, 3 of the children are school aged. He has money to burn type of rich. He is voting for free lunches, as he said, "why would I not want my kids eating for free, you know how much that will save me"..

Mrs johnr and I went to the Bismarck camper show a month back. There was a chick standing out in the entry way of the civic center trying to get signatures for this measure. "Would you like to sign this petition to get free school lunches for our children in need". I said absolutely not, we have free lunches for kids in need already. Boy if looks could kill, she was holding back calling me a fun name. Mrs johnr says could you not have just said no, why do you have to make it uncomfortable...haha, I said, after 25 years together, this surprises you?

 

[Wally World]

I think this is to important for ND to be buried on the political page - WE NEED A LARGE NO VOTE

Why would they have a Constitutional measure placed on a primary election where typically 20% of ND eligible voters vote when a general election typically has around a 60% turnout. Looks to me the legislator doesn't like initiated measures and want to limit was the average citizen can do. I believe their hope is by putting this on a primary election and counting on typical turnout 10.01% of eligible ND voters could change the ND constitution.

www.sos.nd.gov/sites/default/files/documents/elections/2026-primary-measure-guide.pdf

www.sos.nd.gov/sites/www/files/documents/elections/election-results-pdfs/statistics-turnout.pdf

Vote NO.......F-CK NO on this bill to take away the citizens voice. The sleezy legislature is suing the State, trying to overturn the Term Limits the people voted on and passed in 2022.

 

[Wirehair]

Vote NO on "free lunch" for all the reasons listed above. Crap like this should appear on general fall election..NOT a primary where few bother to turn out. Bismarck school district / Board pulls the same crap.

 

[Slappy]

I’m voting for it for one reason. I refuse to allow any kid to have to eat a subpar meal or be singled out because his parents either really can’t pay or they’re a pos. As a conservative to me what the Legislature should have done is required all kids to get fed the same and if some don’t pay required the schools to send them to collection like a business would or treat it like child support and make them eventually pay. But as long as schools are allowed to do what they’re doing I’m voting for it.

Being altruistic with others' tax dollars is more socialist than conservative. We need less welfare, not more.

Agree on the NO vote for this measure.

 

[SupressYourself]

My wife works in a school. There is already a program to give free or reduced cost lunch, and she says you wouldn't believe how many people are on it, including families you know have money. Trust me, no one is going hungry.
We should NEVER vote to add more socialist bloat, especially to the constitution. "It's for the children" sounds great, but just like every other social program, it would be rife with bloat and fraud.

 

[Petras]

Am I missing something? The text from the first link says that the measure to be voted on would restrict initiated measures to 1 single topic per measure..... Isn't that a good thing? Do we not all bitch about the us congress spending bills and their "gotta pass it to see whats in it" mentality?

Personally I would think this would be a good measure to pass just to keep confusion to a minimum for voters....

I haven't read the full text of the measure yet, so I'm sure there is something sneaky in there.... Seems to me there was something like this on the docket for the last go around but the measure itself was addressing multiple different topics in a single vote.... seemed a bit hypocritical if I remember right. Im gonna take the time to read the full text of the measure sometime soon.
I can agree that Constitutional measures should absolutely be put to a vote during the general election...